"No, dear, of course not; but I feel very uneasy, and I should like to know——"
"You need never feel uneasy about me, mother. I am well able to take care of myself and mind my own affairs"—she began to move out of the room—"and I also know how to deal with interfering people who try to mind them for me. Don't worry, mother dear, but go to bed. You look tired."
The door closed behind her. Rosalie threw herself into her mother's arms.
"Oh, mother, she meant that for Dick!" she cried, and burst into tears.
Mrs. Ozanne, trembling herself, strove to comfort her child.
"Nonsense, darling, she's only cross and tired. She did not mean anything. Besides, what can—" She faltered and broke off.
"What can't she do?" sobbed Rosalie. "And Dick did, he did say that everyone was amazed at her diamonds—and so they were."
"But what is all this about Dick, dear?" asked her mother, with a tender little smile. The subject was changed, as she meant it to be.
"Oh, mummie, we're engaged! I was only waiting for Rosanne to go to tell you; and I was so happy."
"And you will go on being happy, darling. He is a splendid fellow—and a good man, too. Nothing shall happen to prevent your being the happiest pair alive," comforted Mrs. Ozanne, and, with crooning, motherly words, herded Rosalie to bed. But she herself stayed sleepless for many hours.
"Rosanne," she said, at lunch the next day, before Rosalie came in, "I think you ought to know that your sister is engaged to Richard Gardner."